The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Mounts & Riding

Master mounts and riding in Breath of the Wild. Acquire, register, and use horses to cut down travel time and traverse Hyrule's vast landscapes more efficientl.

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Mounts & Riding

Traversing the vast and beautiful landscapes of Hyrule is a core part of the Breath of the Wild experience. While Link is an accomplished runner, utilizing mounts, primarily horses, can drastically cut down travel time and make exploration more enjoyable. This section will guide you through acquiring, registering, and effectively using your equine companions.

Acquiring a Horse

Wild horses roam many open plains across Hyrule. The easiest place to find them early in the game is the Dueling Peaks Stable area or the fields south of the Great Plateau. Follow these steps to tame your first steed:

  1. Locate a Wild Horse: Look for herds of horses grazing in open areas. They come in various colors and patterns.
  2. Approach Stealthily: Crouch (press the Left Stick) and move slowly towards your target horse. Consuming a Sneaky Elixir or wearing stealth-boosting armor like the Stealth Set (purchasable in Kakariko Village) will significantly increase your chances of success.
  3. Mount the Horse: Once you are close enough, a prompt to "Mount" will appear (press A).
  4. Soothe the Horse: Immediately after mounting, the horse will try to buck you off. Repeatedly press the "L" button (Soothe) to calm it down. The amount of soothing required depends on the horse's temperament, indicated by the number of spurs it has (more spurs means a wilder horse). You will consume stamina during this process, so ensure you have enough.
  5. Maintain Control: Once tamed, you can ride the horse. Use the Left Stick to steer, A to gallop, and B to slow down.

Registering Your Horse

To ensure your horse doesn't wander off or get lost permanently, you must register it at a stable. Stables are easily identifiable by their horse-head shaped roofs and can be found throughout Hyrule, often near major roads or landmarks.

  1. Find a Stable: Ride your newly acquired horse to the nearest stable. Examples include Dueling Peaks Stable, Riverside Stable, or Wetland Stable.
  2. Speak to the Stable Master: Dismount your horse and talk to the Stable Master at the counter.
  3. Register Your Horse: Select the "Register Horse" option. You will need to pay 20 Rupees and give your horse a name.
  4. Retrieve Your Horse: Once registered, you can retrieve your horse from any stable in Hyrule by speaking to the Stable Master and selecting "Take Out Horse."

You can register up to five horses at any given time. If you wish to register a sixth, you will need to release one of your existing registered horses.

Horse Stats and Bonding

Each horse has unique stats:

  • Strength: Affects the horse's health and resilience in combat.
  • Speed: Determines how fast the horse can run.
  • Stamina: Dictates how many times you can spur the horse to gallop.
  • Temperament: Ranges from gentle to wild. Wild horses require more soothing to tame and control.

Bonding: As you ride your horse, soothe it, and feed it (apples, carrots), your bond with it will increase. A higher bond makes the horse more responsive to your commands and easier to control. You can check your horse's bond level at any stable.

Horse Equipment

Initially, your registered horses will have basic saddles and bridles. You can customize these later in the game:

  • Saddles & Bridles: Certain side quests, like the Horseback Archery challenge at the Highland Stable, can reward you with unique gear like the Extravagant Saddle and Extravagant Bridle, which offer cosmetic changes.
  • Ancient Horse Gear (DLC): If you own the "Expansion Pass," completing the EX Ancient Horse Rumors quest will grant you the Ancient Bridle and Ancient Saddle. The Ancient Bridle increases your horse's spurs, while the Ancient Saddle allows your horse to warp to your location from anywhere on the map, making it incredibly convenient.

Special Mounts

Beyond standard horses, Hyrule offers a few unique, albeit temporary, mounts:

  • Giant Horse: Found in the Taobab Grassland southwest of the Highland Stable. This massive steed boasts incredible strength but only one spur for stamina. It cannot be customized with special gear.
  • Lord of the Mountain: A mystical, glowing creature found atop Satori Mountain. It has infinite stamina but cannot be registered at a stable, making it a temporary companion. It requires significant stealth and soothing to mount.
  • Stalhorse: Skeletal horses found in forested areas at night, particularly in the Akkala Highlands. They are aggressive until mounted and will disintegrate at dawn. They cannot be registered.
  • Bears & Deer: While not practical for long-distance travel, you can briefly mount bears and deer. They cannot be registered and are primarily for fun or specific quest requirements.

Tips for Riding

  • Whistle for Your Horse: If your registered horse is within a certain range, you can whistle (Down on D-Pad) to call it to your location.
  • Combat from Horseback: You can use bows and one-handed weapons while riding. This is particularly effective against smaller enemies or for quick hit-and-run tactics.
  • Horse Health: Horses can take damage from enemies or falls. If your horse is defeated, it will not be permanently lost if registered. You can revive it at the Malanya Spring (located in the Faron Grasslands) for a fee.
  • Auto-Pathing: While riding on a path, you can let go of the Left Stick, and your horse will follow the path automatically. This is useful for enjoying the scenery or planning your next move.